Inauguration of Community Newspaper

On March 07, 2007, Inauguration of “Kien Svay Community Newspaper”, organized by Khmer Association for Development, was presided by H.E Khieu Kanharith, the information minister and government spokesman. This community newspaper, funded by Open Society Institute, has been established in an attempt to disseminate information happening in Kien Savy District in Kandal province. All information related to drug, agriculture, health, decentralization…etc.

Meas Chandeth, director of Khmer Association for Development, said that 500 copies were published every week, and distributed to community people, NGOs, local authority with 3-maonth free of charge. And he plans to sell 500 Riel a copy.

Khieu Kanharith said that this is the first community newspapers to be published in Cambodia. He added that nowadays there are national and regional newspapers and one community radio. He urged to publish community newspapers to share information to people in community.

So far, news and information have been not distributed to remote rural areas. By the way, people do not like to read news because they are cared about their livelihood. At the time, people receive more information; they will have good judgment to select their leaders.